Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2011

Mentor:  Vishal Patel, M.D.             
Department:   Internal Medicine      
Room number:           F5.206
Mail Code:     8856  
Phone number: 214 648 6807                   
E-mail: vishald.patel@utsouthwestern.edu                       
Project title: Role of microRNAs in kidney development and disease               

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):       NA

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):       2009-0151

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects)
Animal-based and basic research

Brief Description of Project:
Recently, using microarray approaches we have identified that expression of miR-21 is increased in a mouse model of polycystic kidney disease (PKD). The student will participate in validating this data using RT-PCR, Northern Blot analysis and miRNA in-situ hybridization. Once the validation is complete, we will perform functional analysis by knocking out the miR-21 in the mice with PKD. miR-21 KO mice are available as a collaboration with Dr Eric Olson. The hope is that loss of miR-21 in mice with PKD will retard cyst growth. Eventually we will test the efficacy of miR-21 antimirs (chemical inhibitors of miR-21) as a potential therapeutic target in mice with PKD.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:
In past, we have studied (i)  the role of cilia in the post natal kidney (publications: Hum Mol Genet. 2008 Jun 1 and Nat Cell Biol. 2010 Nov;12(11)  (ii) the role of Dicer in the kidney (manuscript in preparation) (iii) role of miRNAs in kidney fibrosis (manuscript in preparation). Other research related activities: (i) I organize the research conferences for nephrology fellows  (ii) working with a MS4 to write up a case series of usual catheter-related infections.

Training experience: This is my first year as an Assistant Professor on tenure track so I have not had the opportunity to train medical students during the summer. I have trained undergraduate students. One of the students is a medical student and UTMB and another will be a MD/PhD candidate at UT Southwestern. I will co-mentor a NIH-T32 funded nephrology fellow starting July 2011.